A federal jury in New York City has found Live Nation, the parent company of Ticketmaster, liable for operating as an illegal monopoly and overcharging consumers for concert tickets.
The verdict followed seven weeks of testimony and four days of deliberations in a case brought by the U.S. Department of Justice and attorneys general from three dozen states. The lawsuit, filed in May 2024, alleged that Live Nation's practices had kept out competitors and led to higher ticket prices and worse service for customers.
The case could result in Live Nation being forced to divest parts of its business or separate from Ticketmaster entirely — an outcome former Attorney General Merrick Garland advocated for when he initiated the legal action.
What the Right Is Saying
Live Nation has maintained throughout the trial that it is not a monopoly and competes fiercely with rivals in the entertainment space, including sports teams, concert promoters and other venue operators.
The company argued that consumers have numerous alternatives for purchasing tickets to live events and that its market position results from providing a superior service.
In March, the DoJ announced it had reached a settlement with both companies and withdrew from the case just as trial proceedings were set to begin. The states of Arkansas, Nebraska and South Dakota also pulled out of the lawsuit.
What the Left Is Saying
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who led a coalition of state prosecutors pursuing the case, celebrated the verdict as a victory for consumers across political lines. "We are incredibly proud of today's outcome — and especially proud of our coalition made up of red and blue states alike who understood we needed to come together to protect our consumers, businesses, and state economies from Live Nation's illegal conduct," Bonta said.
Earlier this week, a group of Democratic senators criticized the DoJ's attempted settlement with Live Nation and Ticketmaster. In a letter, the senators said the agreement "fails to restore competition and protect fans, artists, and independent venues" and would leave the companies in control of pricing for live events.
The senators' letter cited evidence that Ticketmaster controls more than 70% of all major concert venues with exclusive ticketing contracts, while Live Nation controls approximately 80% of the major concert amphitheaters market.
What the Numbers Show
The jury found that Ticketmaster overcharged customers by $1.72 per ticket sold, a figure that will serve as the basis for calculating damages in future proceedings.
Live Nation is one of the largest entities in live entertainment, organising more than 55,000 concerts worldwide last year, drawing approximately 159 million attendees.
The company's shares fell by more than 6% in trading following the announcement of the verdict.
According to the senators' letter, credible evidence presented during the case indicated Ticketmaster controls over 70% of major concert venues through exclusive ticketing contracts, while Live Nation's venue holdings account for approximately 80% of the major concert amphitheaters market.
The Bottom Line
The jury's verdict marks a significant legal victory for state attorneys general and could reshape the live music industry. Judge Arun Subramanian, who presided over the case, will now determine what remedies to impose, including potential divestiture of Live Nation's assets or a forced separation from Ticketmaster.
The judge also has the authority to impose financial penalties based on the per-ticket overcharge figure found by the jury. The DoJ's settlement attempt failed, leaving the states to pursue the case to its conclusion.
Industry observers say the outcome could have far-reaching implications for ticket pricing, venue access and competition in live events. The case drew heightened public attention following the 2022 Taylor Swift Eras Tour, when Ticketmaster's systems collapsed under demand, prompting a U.S. Senate hearing and calls for regulatory scrutiny.